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30 impact transfers for the 2024-25 season

It’s never too early to start looking ahead!

Check below for our list of 30 impact transfers for the 2024-25 college basketball season.

In no particular order:

Oumar Ballo, Indiana (Arizona): Ballo averaged a double-double (12.9 points, 10.1 rebounds) last season for Arizona and had 15 points and 15 rebounds in the Wildcats’ Sweet 16 loss to Clemson. At 7-feet and 260 pounds, this guy feels like he’s tailor made to play center in the Big Ten.

Myles Rice, Indiana (Washington State): While Rice’s long distance shooting (27.8 percent from three-point range) remains in question, his overall ability is not. This kid was the best player on the team that was arguably college basketball’s best story last season. Without Rice, there’s absolutely no way that Washington State would have won a game in the NCAA Tournament and advanced in March Madness for the first time since 2008. He’ll instantly be a fan favorite in Bloomington.

Norchad Omier, Baylor (Miami): The addition of Omier immediately put Baylor in the conversation among the best teams in the sport. Despite only standing 6-7, he’s averaged a double-double in each of the four years of his college career and was instrumental in Miami’s run to the 2023 Final Four.

Jeremy Roach, Baylor (Duke): Final Four experience? Check. Comfortable in big games? Check. Seasoned at the most important position at the floor? Yes, Roach has that too. This guy should be the heartbeat of one of the sport’s best perimeters in 2024-25 along with five-star freshman V.J. Edgecombe and veterans Jayden Nunn and Langston Love.

Cliff Omoruyi, Alabama (Rutgers): The Crimson Tide only blocked 133 shots as a team last season — Omoruyi blocked 93 all by himself. Rim protection just got a whole lot better in Tuscaloosa.

Johnell Davis, Arkansas (Florida Atlantic): A bonafide All-American candidate, the 6-4 Davis is the type of player that John Calipari used to have during his days at Memphis and early in his time at Kentucky. A tremendous defender, Davis has played in six NCAA Tournament games over the past two seasons and was a major part of Florida Atlantic’s run to the 2023 Final Four. That type of experience will be invaluable in Fayetteville.

Jonas Aidoo, Arkansas (Tennessee): Like Davis, Aidoo is a capable defender who knows how to win as evidenced by his role in Tennessee’s run to the Elite Eight last season. A consistent shot blocker, this 6-11 center had nine games last season with at least three blocks. He’ll instantly stabilize the middle in Fayetteville.

DJ Wagner, Arkansas (Kentucky): Wagner didn’t have the freshman season that many expected him to a year ago, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not capable of being elite as a sophomore. A mid-season ankle injury slowed his progress, but Wagner still averaged 9.9 points and 3.3 assists in his first season of college basketball. People are sleeping on this kid, who scored at least 14 points in six of eight games from mid-December until late-January when he had to step out of the lineup.

Chaz Lanier, Tennessee (North Florida): The Vols needed perimeter scoring after the loss of Dalton Knecht and Lanier fits the bill. He averaged 19.7 points last season at North Florida and made 106 three-point shots. He should form an interesting perimeter troika for Tennessee along with both Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack.

Tucker DeVries, West Virginia (Drake): DeVries has been the best player in the Missouri Valley over the past few seasons while he was at Drake and now he’ll to move to Morgantown and test his mettle against the Big 12. It will be fascinating to see how the 6-7 DeVries adjusts to what has been the best conference in college basketball over the past few seasons.

AJ Storr, Kansas (Wisconsin): Bill Self needed firepower out of the transfer portal and he got just that in Storr, who led Wisconsin in scoring (16.8 points) last season and was third on the Badgers in rebounding (3.9 rebounds). His presence on the perimeter should immediately take pressure off Hunter Dickinson in the low post.

Dug McDaniel, Kansas State (Michigan): Jerome Tang’s ability to have point guards flourish at a high level has been a benchmark of first two years as a head coach. McDaniel is tailor made to be next in line. After averaging 16.3 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.7 rebounds last year at Michigan, McDaniel will get the keys to the car for the Wildcats at the most important position on the floor.

Coleman Hawkins, Kansas State (Illinois): The Wildcats’ ability to secure a commitment from Hawkins in late-June immediately put Kansas State back in the NCAA Tournament conversation. One of the most skilled big men in all of college basketball, the 6-10 Hawkins should be an All-Big 12 player in 2024-25.

Great Osobor, Washington (Utah State): The reigning Mountain West Player of the Year, Osobor followed his head coach — Danny Sprinkle — to Washington after following him a year ago from Montana State to Utah State. He’ll be a major part of the Huskies’ attack in this program’s first season in the Big Ten.

Kadary Richmond, St. John’s (Seton Hall): The best transfer in the sport aligns with the best player development coach in the sport? Sounds like a recipe for an All-American caliber season. If Rick Pitino can get Richmond — who’s only made 59 three-point shots during his four-year career — to become a capable outside shooter, he’ll be a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. The 6-6 Richmond averaged 15.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 2.2 steals last season.

Deivon Smith, St. John’s (Utah): If Smith played for a blue blood program, he’d be talked about as a potential Preseason All-American. Instead, he’s going to operate in the shadows until game action begins in November. Remember: Smith only played 28 games last season after he was ruled eligible in mid-December and still tallied five triple-doubles. He averaged 18.8 points, 9.5 assists, 8.5 rebounds, and 2.3 steals during four games in last season’s Postseason NIT.

Tarris Reed, UConn (Michigan): Blessed with gifts from God physically, the 6-10 Reed possesses the type of basketball body that Norman Rockwell would have painted. Nevertheless, he never played in the NCAA Tournament in two years at Michigan and his head coach — Juwan Howard — was fired at the end of last season. I’m very curious to see what this kid looks like after he’s coached by Dan Hurley and the UConn staff each and every day.

Aidan Mahaney, UConn (Saint Mary’s): Mahaney has to emerge into an All-Big East caliber guard if the Huskies are going to compete for a third straight national title. He was terrific for two years in Moraga under Randy Bennett at Saint Mary’s, averaging 13.9 points in each of his first two seasons while making a combined 157 three-point shots. As Mahaney goes, so may UConn in 2024-25.

Jaxson Robinson, Kentucky (BYU): Mark Pope needs major mileage out of the 6-5 Robinson, who was last season’s Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year. He scored 25 points last March in BYU’s NCAA Tournament loss against Duquesne and is the most proven power conference player that Pope added in his massive transfer class.

Meechie Johnson, Ohio State (South Carolina): Who says you can never go home again! After leading South Carolina to the NCAA Tournament a year ago, Johnson is heading back to Columbus, where he played for the Buckeyes during the first two years of his college career. Look for Johnson and Bruce Thornton to form one of the sport’s best backcourts and arguably the best backcourt in the Big Ten in 2024-25.

Sion James, Duke (Tulane): The Blue Devils aren’t known for taking transfers, but the 6-6 James headlines a plethora of newcomers that Jon Scheyer added from the portal. A tremendous athlete and strong perimeter defender, this guy should be firmly in the mix for a starting spot after averaging 14 points and 5.4 rebounds last season.

Tramon Mark, Texas (Arkansas): Rodney Terry is loading up on talented offensive players and Mark is a major part of that conversation. The 6-6 wing averaged 16.2 points last season at Arkansas and tallied 10 games where he scored 20 points or more.

Arthur Kaluma, Texas (Kansas State): This is Kaluma’s third school in the last three seasons and he was a key late addition for the Longhorns. He’ll immediately stabilize the power forward spot for Texas, who’s entering its first season as a member of the SEC.

Robbie Avila, Saint Louis (Indiana State): Indiana State’s 32-win season was one of the great stories in college basketball last season and Avila (17.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.1 assists) was a major part of it. A “point center” at 6-10, Avila was at the epicenter of everything for the Sycamores and he hopes to bring the same type of impact to Saint Louis. This is a legitimate Atlantic 10 Player of the Year candidate.

Pop Isaacs, Creighton (Texas Tech): The losses of both Trey Alexander and Baylor Scheierman created a massive scoring void on the Bluejays’ perimeter. Greg McDermott surely hopes that Isaacs can fill it. A double-figure scorer in each of the first two seasons of his college career, the 6-2 Isaacs scored 19 points or more in three of his final five games of last season.

Roddy Gayle, Michigan (Ohio State): Transferring from Columbus to Ann Arbor? Inconceivable! The Wolverines’ staff spoke glowingly of Gayle’s potential during the summer and he should be a major part of Dusty May’s first team at Michigan. The 6-5 Gayle averaged 13.5 points last season for the Buckeyes as a sophomore and will boast All-Big Ten potential as a junior.

Kylan Boswell, Illinois (Arizona): Brad Underwood reloaded the Illini roster with several unknowns, but Boswell is a proven commodity. He’ll immediately stabilize the point guard spot for an Illinois team that will be built with freshmen, transfers, and international prospects.

Wooga Poplar, Villanova (Miami): Eric Dixon needed a running mate on the perimeter and that’s just what he’ll get in the 6-5 Poplar, who averaged 13.1 points last season in the ACC. A bonafide bucket getter, don’t be shocked if Poplar — a Philadelphia native — leads the Wildcats in scoring during the 2024-25 season.

Kobe Johnson, UCLA (USC): Mick Cronin said recently on the College Hoops Today Podcast that Johnson is as good of a defender as Jaylen Clark, who was the National Defensive Player of the Year in Westwood during the 2022-23 season. Johnson’s hard-nosed style should be a perfect fit with Cronin, who missed the NCAA Tournament last season for the first time since 2010.

Ryan Conwell, Xavier (Indiana State): Quincy Olivari made 106 three-point shots last season for the Musketeers — Conwell made 109 shots from long distance in the Missouri Valley. He’ll take the baton from Olivari — who took the baton from Souley Boum — as mid-major guards who put up big numbers in the Big East after transferring to play for Sean Miller at Xavier.

Leftovers